Concrete-mixing apparatus



May 5, 1925. 1,537,026

c. M. EBERLING CONCRETE HIKING APPARATUS I Filed Dec. 20, 1920 4Sheets-Sheet 1 fig 311/55 May 5, 1925. 1,537,026

k c. M. EBERLING CONCRETE MIXING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 20, 1920 4Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 c. M. EBERLING concurs MIXING ArrmivrusFiled D60- 20, 1920 c. M. EBERLING cor mm: inuue' APPARATUS 7 Filed Dec.20, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 5, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,537,025v PATENT OFFICE,

oHAn-LEsM; EBERLING, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE EBERLING MA-CHINES si nns COMPANY, on CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

CONCRETE-MIXING ArrenninUs.v

Application iiledDecember 20, 1920. Serial no. 431,908;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Linc, a'citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Concrete- MixingApparatus, OfWlllCll the following is a full, clear, andexact-description, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings. fThis invention relates to a machine for mixing dry materials andespecially for intimately mixing cement with an aggregate dryingredients suchgas cement and aggregates can be readily adjusted andafter adj ustment will remain constant indefinitely; one wherein theproportions of the material will to some extentvary automatically withthe size of the aggregates or the luinpiness of the cement; one whereinthe mixing trough can readily be adjusted tov prevent 'or compensate forwear andreplaceinent 3e when necessaryywhile further objects andadvantages of the invention will become apparent asthe descriptionproceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application, Ihave shown certain[physical forms in which my inventive idea can beembodied although it will he understood that these drawings are intendedto be merely illustrative of principles rather than exhaustivept'.construetions; Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a complete concretemixer of my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 represent vertical longitudinalsectional views of the same corresponding tothe lines2-2 and 3-3'ofFigs. 1 and 5. Fig; 4c is a fl'Ol'ltQlQViltlOll of the machine; and Fig.5 is a transverse sectional view talren'on the broken line 5-5 ofFigs'.1 and 3." o

Describing the parts by reference characters my improved machine"comprises a trough 1 in which the ingredients are mixed, and twohoppers 2, 3, in which the cement and aggregate, respectively areintroduced and from which they are fed to the trough in adjustedproportions; 4- 1; represent parrial.

the discharge end of thetrouglr allel side members of a horizontalrectangu-' lariraine, connected by suitable bolsters 5 5 which carry thebearings 6-6 and also supported by the legs T7. Journaled in thebearings is a pug shaft 8 to which are attached the inclined blades 9+9spaced at intervals therealong. The trough 1 is made of sheet metal withvertical sides 101() and a semi-cylindrical bottom 11 past which theends of the blades swing closely in order to prevent the aggregate fromentering metal. The upper edges of the trough walls are provided withsuitable outturned ears 12-12 attached by means of vertical boltsknives, or can be dropped completely from .its support tor repair orreplaccn'ient withoutdismantling any other part of the machine. Thistrough is shorter than the shaft 8 and islocated entirely between thebearings 66, its head-end terminating in a- 9 wall 15 which is aperturedfor the shaft,

and its opposite end being open as shown at 16 for the discharge of themixed mate- In this way the main bearings are preserved out of contactwith the abrasive desired by iiiterposing a shield 17 between and thecorresponding shaft-bearing. Carried by the forward endot the frame 4area pair of longitudinally spaced bracktherebetween and cuttingchannels in the 'inaterials, which is further accomplished i1 ets' 20,21 in Avhich are journaled the parallel, horizontal feed shafts L2,23-which are located one above each side of the machine, parallel to'the shaft 8 and traversing the hoppers 2 and 3 respectively, Rigidlysecured to'each ofIt-liese shafts is a circular member 24' hereshown ashaving a pair of outturned peripheral flanges 25-25 formed withaliglited apertures parallel to its axis, a'ndinsaid apertures areslidably mounted the fingers 26-2G. The rear 'ard ends of these lingers26 are turned inward "ly as shown at 27 and received in the peripheralgroove of an adjusting disk 28 slidably mounted upon the correspondingshaft such adjustment being eii'ected by means or a hand wheel 29 .'adrag screw 30, and a pivoted leverfi'l, the latter being con nected tothe disk by means of the slip ring 32. By this construction the forwardends of the lingers can be caused to project agreater or less distanceupon the rearward side of their respective carriers.

Projecting from the forward face of the hoppers 2 and 3, are the spoutsand 36, respectively which extend into the space defined by the rotatingends of the lingers 26 and are tern'iinated by the upright plates 37through which the respective shafts pass. Beneath the discharge end ofthese spouts are located the shelves 238, 39, made in the form ofcylindrical segments with their concave sides uppermost, across whichthe ends of said fingers sweep closely, the end plates 37 the sides ofthe spouts terminating sufficiently above those shelves to define slots40 through which these fingers pass. Leakage of material through theseslots is prevented by the fact that the plates 3737 lie so close to themember 3% that the adj a cent flange 25 forms a moving closure, whilethe ends of the shelves are extended later ally a sufficient distance asshown at l-i l1 to prevent the overflow of the material.

Carried by the forward ends of the shafts 22, ..3 are the inter-meshingspur gears 44-44.- by means of which the shafts are turned in oppositedirections as shown by the arrows in Figs. l: and 5; and suitable meansare also provided for the driving of the shaft 8 and the connection ofthe other shafts thereto in driven relation. In the present embodiment Ihave shown the shaft 8 as provided with fast and loose pulleys L5, andalso a sprocket 46 from which a chain L7 leads to a larger sprocket 48whose hub i9 is sleeved loosely on the shaft The exterior of this hub isformed with a cylindrical portion 50 on which is slid-ably and rotatablymounted the'hub 51 of a smaller sprocket 52, which in turn is connectedby a chain 53 with alarge sprocket 54- rigidly connected to the shaft23. Journaled upon the end of the shaft 23 is a collar 56 to which ispivoted the clutch lever 57 whose oppositeend engages the split ring 58carried by the hub 51; while the hubs 4-9 and 51 are. formed withinterlitting clutch teeth as shown in Fig. 1 so that by the operation ofthis lever the operation of the shafts 22 and 23 can be con trolledwithout stopping the shaft 8.

Inside the hoppers the shafts are provided with stirring arms 60. Alsoadjacent to the point at which the fingers 26 leave the shelves 238 and39, the adjacent walls of. the hoppers are provided with pivoted doors616l hung on horizontal spring hinges 62-432 so as normally to remain ca, but adapted to he opened momentarily by engagement with a stone orhard lump in the material. Also I locate a suitable water supply headsuch as the rose ('35 above the trough 1 slightly to the rear of theshelves.

These hinges are preferably attached to plates (i363 which arevertically adjustable through the agency of slots G l whereby the widthof the discharge openings can be varied to accommodate coarse materialor different conditions of moisture.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: The hoppers 2 and 3being lilled, the one with cement and the other with a suitableaggregate, which may be of crushed stone, gravel, sand, or othersuitable substance, regardlcss of size (within the capacity of themachine) the three shafts are set into rotation, whereupon the action ofthe fingers 26 sweeping across the shelves 518 and 39 is to carrymeasured amoun s of the two materials simultaneously therefrom andshower them into the trough. The comparative proportions of therespective materials depends upon the relative speed of the shafts and23 and upon the relative amounts by which the fingers .28 project acrossthe shelves, the latter adjustment being capable of variation even whilethe machine is in operation by merely turning the hand wheels 29-29. Thewidth of the slots is also a factor to be taken into consideration. Inthe present embodiment I have shown the spur gears lt llz as being ofequal size, thereby working the shafts at the same speed, but it issometimes desirable to rotate the one which feeds aggregate more rapidlythan the other. In any case, it will be seen that the two materials,cement and aggregate, are showered together continuously in the drystate so as to becomeclosely mixed in the dry state even in the act offalling into the trough. Being almost immediately shoved by the l-znivesbeneath the water spray, they become worked into a uniform consistentmass before any segregation can occur, and delivered in a uniform streamof any desired degree of wetness. The length of the trough and slope ofthe knives are so chosen as to afford a sutiioient degree of mixturebefore discharge. In order to stop the machine it is customary first tothrow oil the clutch lever 57 so as to stop the addition of the dryn'iaterials, and also shut off the water supply, but leaving the pugshaft in operation until the trough has been freed from concretemixture.

In case a stone becon'ies caught by the aggregate-fceding lingers. thecorrespo spring door yields, pemuitting its pas without injury to themachine: and altlioinn its effect is also to permit a monicntar iacreasein the proportion of a z greg te, this is not a serious matter, partlybecause in line work care is talccn to avoid (he presence of stones, andin rough work a little variation rate, particularly when it is of atexture, is no detriment. Likewise if the cement be lumpy the springdoors yield to permit its passage, and the fact that llO such yieldingservesto perinit'the passage of an undue quantity of cement at suchtimes is no real disadvantage inasmuch as an addedqua'ntity' of cementmust in any be used when it is of a lumpy nature. The doors close veryquickly after they have opened, and with reasonably uniform materialsexperience shows that" the proportions can be adjusted and maintainedwithiny improved mixer with a high degree of satis faction and mostimportant, that the proportion of liquid to solid can be maintained withgreat accuracy which is of especial value in connection with compressingmachinery' iirwhich the amount of-pressure must be governed to. someextent by the moisture of the mixture. It will be understood thatinyimproved mixer is eq'ually useful inthe production of wet and fluidmixtures, can be made in any desired size or capacity.

It can also be used for mixing other materials than those described,especially certain parts ofthe mechanism, since it is clear thatotherparts can be substituted or omitted,

and generally that many changes in detail and construction can be madewithin the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what said pushing devices. 1

the combination means therein,

2. in a concrete mixer, of a trough having pugging ofa pair of. shelvesoverhanging the same opposite to each other, hoppers for cement andaggregate supported one above each shelf and each l aving adischargespout which terminatesslightly above and inside the edges ofthe corresponding shelf, aseries of pushing devices movable across eachshelf past the end of the spout, and means for 'rotating said pushingdevices cont-inn ously in a direction to shower into said trough some ofthe dry material thereon.

3. In a concrete mixer, the combination of a trough having pugging meanstherein,

of a pair of shelves overhanging thefsame, hoppers for cen'ient andaggregate'supported one above each shelf and each having a dischargespout which approaches the corresponding shelf sufiiciently far from itsdischarge side toprevent accidental. overrunning, a pushing devicesupported for movement across the face of each shelf,

case.

means for moving said devices simuitane ousiy toward the discharge sidesof their respective shelves, and means for varying the efiective lengthsof said devices so as to adjust the respective amounts of cementandaggregate which they shower into the trough.

4. In a concrete mixer, the combination of a trough having pugging meanstherein, of a, pair of shelves overhanging the same, a Wall at thedischarging side of each shelf and spaced tlIQItLlQOVB to define adischarge slot, means for maintaining a supply of dry material on eachshelf, lingers adapted to sweep across said shelves andthrough saidslots so as to shower into said trough the n'iaterial on said shelves,and ineans for varying the effective-length of said fingers.

5. Ina concrete mixer, the combination of of a pair of shelvesoverhanging the same, awall at the discharging side of each shelf andspaced there above to define a discharge slot, means for maintaining asupply of dry material on each shelf, pivoted lingers adapted to sweepacross said shelves and a trough having pugging means therein,

throughsaid slots, means for actuating siniult aneously the fingers forthe respective shelves, and means for adjusting said iin-v gers so as tovary the speed of the dry material through their respective slots.

6. In a concrete mixer, in combinatioir an upwardlyconcave shelfconstituting a cylindrical segment, a shaft concentric therewith,acircular member carried by said shaft, and constituting a closure forone end of said shelf, a plurality of spaced lingers projecting fromsaid member and adapted to sweep across the face of said shelf as themember is r-volved, a hopper for dry ma,- ter al having a spout proecting into the space defined by said fingers and discharging onto saidshelf, means for rotating said member, and a receptacle for the materialwhich said fingers remove from said shelf.

shelf concave on its upper side constituting a cylindrical segment, ashaft concentric to sweep across the face of said'slielf as the memberis revolved, means for iii-aintaining "on said shelf a supply of dryll'ldtil'lfll,

7.'In a concrete mixer, in combination a nvans for rotating said member,and means I for varying the length of said fingers.

8. In a mixing apparatus, in combination, an open topped trough havingpugging means therein, apair of horizontal shafts above and at oppositesides of said trough, aplurality of spaced lingers arranged about eachof saidshafts and parallel therewith and spaced therefrom, shelvesoverwhich said lingers sweep as said shafts are re volved, the dischargesides of said shelves overhanging said trough, means for rotat ing saidshafts in opposite directions, and means for delivering dry materials tosaid shelves and constituting covers for said shelves having dependingsides spaced from the sides of said shelves.

' 9. In a mixing apparatus, in combination a pair of hoppers havingspouts, a pair of shelves onto which said spouts discharge, said spoutsextending above said shelves and constituting a cover therefor, a shaftadjacent to each shelf, lingers carried by said shafts and adapted tosweep over said shelves as said shafts are revolved, a common receptaclelocated beneath the discharge sides of said shelves, and means forrotating said shafts simultaneously, said spouts being siaced from saidshelves sutiiciently to allow the passage of said lingers.

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shelf madein the form of a cylindrical segment and supported with its axishorizontal and its concave surface upward, a horizontal shaft concentricwith said segment, a circular member carried by said shaft, a pluralityof spaced lingers carried by said member parallel to the s ft andadapted to sweep over said surface as said shaft is revolved, and adischarge spout projecting lengthwise into the surface of revolutiondefined by said lingers.

11. In a devil-e of the character described, in combination, a shelfmade in the form of a cylindrical segment and supported with its axishorizontal and its concave surface upward, a horizontal shaft concentricwith said segment, circular members carried by said shaft, and havingspaced apertures therein aligned in parallelism to said shaft, lingersslidably mounted in said apertures and adapted to sweep over saidsurface as the shaft is revolved, a member to which all said lingers areattached, and means for adjusting said member along the shaft.

12. In a device of the character described, in combination, shaft, acircular member thereon and having a plurality of pairs of alignedapertures therein equidistantly spaced from said shaft, rods slidablymounted in said apertures and projecting beyond said member on one side,a second member carried by said shaft at the opposite side of said firstmember and connected to said rods, and means for adjusting said secondmember long tmlinally of said shaft.

8. In a concrete mixer, a. container having pugging means therein, apair of sepa rate containers for cement and aggregate respective y,shelves on which said last containers discharge, a succession ofrevolubly mounted lingers located outside of each container and arrangedand adapted to sweep across the respective shelves, and means forrevolving said lingers continuously in a direction to sweep measuredamounts of the respective materials into said first container.

14. In a concrete mixer, the combination with a trough having puggingmeans therein, of a pair of shelves located at a higher level than saidtrough and overhanging the. same at opposite points, a succession ofrevolubly mounted lingers arranged and adapted to sweep over saidshelves, means for revolving said fingers continuously in a direction tosweep from said shelves into said trough, and a pair of hoppers forcement and aggregate respectively having spouts projecting inside theline of travel of said lingers and terminating at such distance abovesaid shelves as to permit said lingers to pass beneath the same.

15. In a concrete mixer, the combination of a trough having puggingmeans therein, of a pair of shelves overhanging said trough on oppositesides, a succession of pushing devices movable across the top of eachshelf transversely of the trough, means for maintaining a uniform supplyof cement and aggregate on the respective shelves, and means for movingthe pushing devices simultaneously toward each other by a constantmovement in one direction, so as to shower the cement and aggregatesimultaneously into said trough.

1t}. In a mixing apparatus, a receptacle having pugging means therein, apair of shafts located at opposite sides thereof, a plurality of spacedhorizontal lingers carried by said shafts, a pair of shelves formed assurfaces of revolution over which said lingers sweep as said shafts arerevolved, the dischar e sides of said shelves overhanging saidreceptacle, hoppers for delivering dry material to said shelves, andmeans for rotating said shafts so as to cause sailx lingers to sweepover said shelves beneath said hoppers so as to shower such imiterialinto said receptacle;

17. In a concrete mixer, in combination with a trough having puggingmeans therein, a plurality of shelves located at a higher level thansaid trough and overhanging the same, means for delivering dry concretemaking materials to the respective shelves. means traveling across thetops of said shelves adapted to sweep such concrete male ing materialsinto said trough and means for controlling the relative rate of ejectionof such materials from the dillerent shelves.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aliix my signature.

CHARLES M. EBERLING.

